The summer heat has settled in on the Poudre which means that the fish have moved a lot of there focus from water born insects to terrestrials and hoppers.

This consistently warm weather has meant that water temperatures are reaching the point where fish may not survive being caught and released, so fishing early mornings or targeting higher sections of the canyon is the best way to avoid these warm water temperatures. For more information on how to keep fish safe during the summer months click here. The heat has also caused the aquatic insects to slow down a bit which has meant fish are starting to pay a lot more attention to ants, beetles and hoppers. Some aquatic insects like caddis, PMDs or Yellow Sallies may be active early mornings or on days with high humidity.

Dry droppers still have been the most effective approach with a foam beetle or hopper with a PMD or Caddis nymph trailing behind. Single and double dry fly set ups have also been finding success with small ant patterns working well when there isn't any kind of visible hatch going on, early in the day trying a Caddis or PMD dry has been successful during windows when the aquatic bug life is active.

If you have any questions or are interested in booking a guided trip on the Poudre, feel free to give either shop a call. We'll be happy to help you get set up for a great day on the water.

Take a look at our Poudre Assortment, a great selection for this time of year. Or, click the images below for a full list of our current recommended fly patterns.